Fluoride Use and Bad Breath

It’s long been known that fluoridating water and oral products can help prevent cavities, but we don’t hear much about fluoride use and bad breath (halitosis or oral malodor). Does fluoridation either cause bad breath or help guard against it? As one might expect, fluoridation can help to prevent halitosis, though its effect is rather subtle and indirect. The benefit is linked to fluoride’s ability to support dental health.

Fluoride inhibits both dental plaque and halitosis. Our teeth are protected by a resistant covering called enamel, built primarily with the minerals calcium and phosphate. These minerals can be removed from enamel by acids produced by oral bacteria that break down sugars in the foods we eat. These bacteria are found, among other places, in the plaque that builds up on our teeth between brushings. When calcium and phosphate are removed from the enamel faster than our bodies can put it back, cavities form. The link between fluoride use and bad breath lies in the fact that dental decay is often associated with a bad odor on the breath.

Manufacturers of oral products have typically used sodium fluoride. A few recent studies, however, suggest that stannous fluoride may work better against plaque and halitosis, and even against inflammation of the gums, which is also associated with oral malodor. This research is preliminary and needs to be backed up with further studies: it’s too soon to draw conclusions about stannous fluoride use and bad breath. In the interim, the benefits of using topical sodium fluoride on the teeth are well documented.

A few words of caution about fluoride use and bad breath are in order. First, in uncomplicated cases of oral malodor, the foul smelling gases are produced by bacteria living on the back of the tongue, not on the teeth, and there is no compelling evidence that fluoridated products have any significant effect on these bacteria. Secondly, exposure to too much fluoride to treat plaque and halitosis may create other health issues: Excessive exposure in children results in dental fluorosis, and the long term effects on adults remain uncertain. Avoid swallowing fluoridated oral products.

Mouthwash for Bad Breath

Is all mouthwash for bad breath or do consumers have to choose carefully from the wide range of products on the market? Actually, oral care products are often marketed as treatments for specific problems, and it’s important to read labels carefully before purchasing. In addition, you might want to consult a dental professional to be sure you are choosing a good product: professionals generally know what works and what doesn’t.

Oral rinses for odor reduction typically contain an antiseptic of some kind – a compound believed to act on the bacteria that are known to produce foul smelling gases in the mouth. Antiseptics in mouthwash for bad breath include essential oils from plants like thyme (thymol) eucalyptus, or mint (menthol), quaternary ammonium compounds such as cetylpyridinium chloride, oxygenating compounds such as peroxide, or an oil that physically picks up the bacteria and carries them away. Some of these antiseptics have been scientifically studied and proven effective, while others depend on anecdotal evidence and individual testimonials.

When shopping for rinses for odor reduction, be sure that you don’t buy a product intended for a different problem, such as tooth decay or gum disease. Though these dental diseases are often associated with oral malodor (they don’t so much cause oral malodor as arise from the same oral conditions) a product aimed only at them and not intended as a mouthwash for bad breath is unlikely to bring you the results you want.

Though many people now regard oral malodor as a medical, or even a social problem, oral rinses for odor reduction tend to be grouped with the cosmetic oral products – those that are intended to whiten teeth or reduce staining. Indeed, solving a halitosis problem may be as simple as paying more attention to oral hygiene and regularly using a mouthwash for bad breath. Unless you suspect an underlying medical condition—in which case, see your doctor—or more serious problems in the mouth, treat it cosmetically first. If this fails to bring relief, however, consult your dentist or dental hygienist. There are other products available only with a prescription.

Homemade Mouthwash

There are many reasons to try your own homemade mouthwash: it’s much cheaper, you can select natural ingredients, you know exactly what’s in it, and you can adjust the ingredients until you have a taste you like and a product that doesn’t irritate your mouth. For some halitosis sufferers, a natural product like this can be part of an improved oral hygiene routine that may well help eliminate breath odors. At the least, an attempt to make your own rinse will cost you very little.

Recipes for natural mouth rinses typically call for aromatic herbs and plant extracts: strong-flavored plants such as mint, rosemary, anise, and fennel. Citrus is popular as well, and more exotic things are sometimes used such as tincture of myrrh, tea tree oil, and aloe vera gel. Homemade mouthwash based on these substances generally uses either water, or soda water as a liquid carrier. Simpler mixtures simply use baking soda or table salt dissolved in water. Glycerin may be used for its antibacterial properties.

It’s not really necessary to have a recipe for homemade mouthwash: you can easily devise your own using ingredients that are available to you. It’s generally advisable to avoid alcohol—as it is in commercial mouthwashes—because of the tendency of alcohol to dry oral tissues; however, alcohol is sometimes used to dissolve ingredients such as glycerin before they’re added to water. When natural mouth rinses are heated during preparation, no alcohol remains in the finished product.

The general rule for making homemade mouthwash with oils and essences is to use small amounts—a few drops in eight ounces of water usually suffices. Adjust mixtures and amounts to taste. If ingredients don’t readily mix, try alcohol and / or heat to hasten the process. Rinsing with natural mouth rinses is the same as with commercial products: swish the solution around in the mouth for about thirty seconds, making sure that the liquid contacts the surfaces between the teeth and all the corners and crevices in the mouth. Since your solution contains minimal amounts of substances that might be harmful, it’s okay to swallow – but use your best judgment based on what you have added. (It may not be a good idea to ingest too much of things like tea tree oil).

For a quick and versatile homemade mouthwash that you can take with you and use anywhere, mix eight ounces of water with a teaspoon of baking soda and add a drop or two of peppermint oil. Alternatively, rinse with unsweetened cranberry juice.

Magnolia officinalis for Bad Breath

One of the latest and most encouraging discoveries in the management of oral malodor uses extract of Magnolia officinalis for bad breath. The extract (MBE) can easily be produced from the stem bark of the magnolia tree, and incorporated into products such as chewing gum and mints to produce a fast acting, portable, and effective breath freshening agent. The substance doesn’t just mask offensive odors with a pleasant smell: scientific research indicates that it actually causes a rapid reduction in the number of odor-producing bacteria in the mouth, thereby providing a lasting benefit.

Until now, gum and mints for halitosis have been mostly a short term aid, used to produce a pleasant smell on the breath while the product is actually in the mouth. The effect fades quickly as soon as the mint dissolves or the flavor of the gum dissipates, sometimes leaving an unpleasant taste in the mouth. While some of the ingredients in these products do have antibacterial properties, the amounts that can be delivered in a single mint or stick of gum are insufficient to really do any good. Using Magnolia officinalis for bad breath seems to be different: controlled scientific study has found that mints containing just 0.2% MBE reduce virtually all of the bacterial species studied within five minutes.

It seems that we might have learned of the potential of Magnolia officinalis for bad breath much sooner if we had listened to ancient Chinese wisdom. The bark extract involved has long been used by the Chinese for everything from headache, through fever, and stress relief. Research in other medical specialties reveals that it may be useful against various other common infections and studies with MBE gum and mints for halitosis suggest, as an incidental finding, that it may help prevent tooth decay as well, by killing the bacteria associated with that. It seems almost too good to be true.

Extravagant claims have been made about the potential of many commercial products, including gum and mints for halitosis, for relief of oral malodor. To date, however, research has not provided the answer to why people suffer from the problem in the first place, or how to get rid of it for good. These answers are still to come. Similarly, using Magnolia officinalis for bad breath will not be a cure if the conditions that allowed the bacteria to proliferate in the first place are not corrected. None the less, a truly effective, portable breath freshener could revolutionize daily life for millions of people.

Source:
Greenberg, Michael. Philip Urnezis and Minmin Tian. “Compressed Mints and Chewing Gum Containing Magnolia Bark Extract Are Effective against Bacteria Responsible for Oral Malodor” J. Agric. Food Chem., 2007, 55 (23), pp 9465–9469.

Zinc Chloride Mouthwash

Oral hygiene products containing metals, such as zinc chloride mouthwash, are considered by some specialists to be among the most effective treatments for halitosis. The scientific rationale behind these products is that the metal molecules react with sulfur molecules in the breath—the offensive smelling sulfur compounds produced by oral bacteria—creating an entirely new chemical structure that does not smell bad. Metals, typically zinc or copper, are often combined with essential oils such as eucalyptus oil or thymol in oral care products.

Clearly, zinc and other metals only have the ability to neutralize bad breath temporarily. They don’t change the conditions in the mouth, and they don’t have any activity against the odor-producing bacteria themselves, therefore, once all of the metal has reacted with sulfur, or been rinsed from the mouth, the bad odor associated with halitosis returns. Even the essential oils, many of which have some antibacterial activity, are present in insufficient quantities to make a lasting difference. Although products such as zinc chloride mouthwash have been reported to freshen the breath for several hours in some cases, they should be considered among the many products that mask the problem, rather than those that solve it.

In fact, some controlled studies that compared the results of regular use of chemical mouthwashes, products containing metals, and those containing essential oils, found little difference between the three. Other studies found that products such as zinc chloride mouthwash were not as good as antibacterial chemicals over the long term, though they may well have fewer adverse side effects to worry about. In the end, reactive metals such as copper and zinc may indeed neutralize bad breath but they are only part of the solution.

A sensible approach to halitosis involves good oral hygiene including regular tooth and tongue cleaning, yearly or twice yearly visits to the dentist, and treatment for any dental or gum disease. If the problem persists, products that neutralize bad breath can be helpful in the short term while a more permanent solution is sought. Ultimately, the aim is to reduce the population of anaerobic odor-producing bacteria living in the mouth to levels that don’t result in detectable odor. Zinc chloride mouthwash will not produce the desired end result if not combined with other antibacterial measures.

Curry Leaves for Bad Breath

Natural remedies for common ailments are more and more popular—one that many people haven’t heard of is the use of curry leaves for bad breath. The people of India grow the curry tree, Murraya koenigii, because the leaves are used to flavor traditional dishes; however, they have also known for many years that putting a few of the fresh leaves in the mouth and holding them there for several minutes can have a remarkably positive effect on the breath.

Murraya koenigii health benefits don’t stop there. Apparently scientists are studying the extract of the leaves as a natural medicine against high cholesterol and high blood sugar, suggesting that it may have great potential in Western countries where many people suffer from high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. The extract contains healthy antioxidants as well, and root bark of the plant is used in some conditions as a pain reliever. It seems that curry leaves for bad breath is only the beginning.

Curry leaves are considered a green vegetable in India. It’s known that they contain vitamins and minerals, which explain some Murraya koenigii health benefits. They also contain essential oils, zinc, and chlorophyll, all of which have been used in commercial remedies for oral malodor. It’s very likely that, like many plants, this one produces some antibacterial compounds and using curry leaves for bad breath may result in a reduction of oral odor-producing bacteria.

Of course, even natural remedies with a long history of use must eventually be properly studied to determine their usefulness, potential toxicity, and how they work. Scientific study has not yet illuminated the secrets behind Murraya koenigii health benefits; however, we can be fairly sure the substance is not toxic because of its long and widespread use as an edible culinary plant. Fresh curry leaves for bad breath will be difficult to obtain in regions where the tree is not grown, however, dried leaves are available in many Asian shops and even these may have some beneficial properties. Further investigation will reveal whether this plant has a future in the arsenal of weapons against oral malodor.

Magnolia Bark Extract for Bad Breath

An extract of the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis has been a traditional Chinese medicine for years: however, it’s only recently that researchers thought of using magnolia bark extract for bad breath. Like many plant extracts, the compound has antibacterial properties against Propionibacterium acne, an organism involved in facial acne; Helicobacter pylori, the cause of stomach and duodenal ulcers; and Streptococcus mutans a bacterium associated with dental decay. It makes sense to investigate whether this compound can reduce the numbers of odor-causing bacteria in the mouth.

The idea of using botanical extracts for halitosis is not new either. In its simplest form, this approach is employed when we chew on a leaf of mint, a clove, or any other aromatic herb in order to impart a fresh scent to the breath. A number of plant essential oils and other compounds have been tested and found to have antibacterial properties. Plant chlorophyll has been used as a breath freshener for a long time, and more recently, tea tree oil has been suggested as a mouth rinse. Preliminary research suggests that using magnolia bark extract for bad breath may be amazingly effective, and that it poses little risk.

Extract of M. officinalis contains two substances that are thought to be important: magnolol and honokiol, with magnolol being present in much higher concentrations than honokiol. In controlled studies where scientists measured the effectiveness of magnolia bark extract for bad breath, results indicated that both magnolol and honokiol, as well as a combination of the two killed odor-producing oral bacteria. In fact the preparation was significantly more effective than other botanical extracts for halitosis, including peppermint oil and thymol (from thyme).

Product development is still ongoing. Thus far food scientists have tested magnolia bark extract for bad breath bacteria in both controlled laboratory culture conditions, and in live subjects who received the compound in gum or mints. Side effects have been relatively few and researchers believe that the substance can be safely added to food items, some of which are already on the market. Best of all, we won’t have to go to the health food store to get these botanical extracts for halitosis: we may finally have a breath freshening mint that does more than just mask the odor.

Source:
Greenberg, Michael. Philip Urnezis and Minmin Tian. “Compressed Mints and Chewing Gum Containing Magnolia Bark Extract Are Effective against Bacteria Responsible for Oral Malodor” J. Agric. Food Chem., 2007, 55 (23), pp 9465–9469.